Saturday, March 28, 2015

GO!ing to the Dominican Republic

This spring break, I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic on a Global Outreach mission trip. Global Outreach, or GO!, is a student-run organization at Fordham that sponsors domestic and international trips that allow students to become better aware of social, economic, political and environmental injustice. These projects range from learning about women's rights and immersing in the culture of Nicaragua, to participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans. With over 30 different locations, there is definitely a project for everyone and many students participate in a GO! trip during their four years here.

My team walking towards the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración in Santiago, DR

After six months of weekly meetings, bake sales and community building, my team of twelve students finally departed for the Dominican Republic. We volunteered with the Joan Rose Foundation in Esperanza, DR, which provides lessons, meals and a safe haven for the children of the impoverished community. We were able to witness the extreme racism in the country that Haitian immigrants experience, as well as the living conditions in bateys, which are communities of sugar cane workers. Many families in the area live off of $0.90 a day, so it was extremely eye-opening to witness their lifestyle. The Joan Rose Foundation was such a loving community and we were able to make many new friendships with the children. My GO! experience was nothing less than life-changing, and I would definitely encourage everyone to apply for a trip!